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NRL WA’s Game Development Officer (South West Region) Angus Street spent two weeks in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island hosting community sport engagement initiatives and development activities alongside the local clubs.

The unprecedented level of recent NRL activity in the Indian Ocean Territories has been greatly appreciated by the locals, who have warmly embraced the opportunity to play and get involved in the sport.

“Trips like this are hugely valuable to expose people to a sport and give them the opportunity to have a try,” says DLGSC Director, Regional Services Mitch Hardy. “As we know, sport is a great way to bring a community together and in a small community, it’s even more important.”

“NRL WA have done a fantastic job in engaging and supporting the Island communities with the long-term view to have established clubs with opportunities for further participation in events like the Harmony Cup.”

Activities on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands included introductory rugby league sessions delivered to more than 100 students at the district high school.

Two community coaching courses were delivered to Cocos (Keeling) Island Hunters RLC volunteers which resulted in there now being two newly accredited coaches. They’re qualified to coach junior participants aged from six to 12 and 13+.

Junior and senior training sessions provided valuable assistance in player preparation for the upcoming Harmony Cup in Perth, which many of the Hunters are travelling to in late October.

At Christmas Island activities included two community coaching courses to the Christmas Island Robbers RLC volunteers which means now means there are four newly accredited coaches who can coach junior players. A junior come and try day helped with participant conversion from fan to player or parent to coach. 

The Australian Government, through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, provides funding to the DLGSC to provide services to the Indian Ocean Territories.